A Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court has arraigned Chidimnma Adaora Ojukwu, Adedayo Quadri and five others for alleged murder, obstruction of justice and failing to report a crime to the law enforcement agencies.
This is in relation to the ongoing investigation of the murder of Super TV CEO, Mr Michael Usifo Ataga, in which Ms. Ojukwu is the prime suspect.
Further investigations revealed the alleged involvement of one Mr. Adedapo Quadri in the murder saga.
While investigations are ongoing, Chidinma Ojukwu and Quadri have been remanded for 30 days at a correctional centre pending the hearing of their case.
Ojukwu, 21 and Adedapo Quadri, 40, are facing trial for allegedly killing the Chief Executive Officer of Super TV, Mr Usifo Ataga.
The Prosecutor, Mr Cyril Ejiofor who is from the State Criminal Investigative and Intelligence Department, Panti, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on June 16, at a serviced apartment located at No. 19, Adewale Oshin Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
He alleged that Ojukwu and Quadri, conspired to kill Ataga and carted away his electronic gadgets – a laptop, phones and cash valued at N3.8 million.
The other five defendants include Chidinma’s father, Onoh Ojukwu, 57, and Babalola Obafemi Disu, 42, who are to face trial on charges of obstructing the police from performing their duties and failing to report a crime to the police.
Others are Jessica Chioma Egbochi, 28; Abayomi Olutayo, 23; and Ifeoluwa Olowu, 23, who are to face trial for dishonestly receiving stolen items.
The prosecutor told the court that the defendants allegedly committed the offences on June 18 and 23, at Computer village, Ikeja, and Alagomeji, Yaba.
They have, however, all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
He alleged that Ojukwu had refused the police arresting his daughter, Chidinma, when the police wanted to effect arrest while the second defendant, Disu, had also failed to report the death of Ataga to the police.
“The other three defendants were alleged to have dishonestly received a MacBook valued at N2.5 million and an iPhone 7 worth N150,000 belonging to the deceased,” he said.
These offences contravene Sections 97, 117, 328 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, according to the prosecutor.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Adeola Adedayo, admitted the other defendants to bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties each in like sum, who must make a deposit of N20,000 into the coffers of the Chief registrar while Ojukwu and Quadri are to be remanded.
The order was given after the Prosecutor, appealed to the court to remand them so as to facilitate proper investigations. She also gave an order that the case file be forwarded to the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal counsel.
The magistrate, however, ruled that the prosecution should separate the charge of Ojukwu and Quadri from the other five defendants before arraignment.
While Ojukwu and Quadri are to be arraigned for conspiracy, murder and stealing others would be re-arraigned for allegedly receiving stolen property, resisting public officers and attempt to pervert justice.
The prosecution separated the charges and appealed to the court that the other five defendants would be docked before the end of Monday’s sitting.
The magistrate further adjourned the case involving Quadri until Sept. 5 for mention and the case of the other defendants to 6th September 2021 for mention.
How is it you conspire to kill someone over a laptop and phone ?